All Over Now

All the trimmings, the tree, the extras, that make Christmas festivities have all gone now, cleared, up, boxed away and put in the cellar. Coming from a family with great Christmas traditions, and with a wife with similar traditions, its always a sad day, one which above all set you up for the coming trials and tribulations for family and friends alike. Being at the age where planning for the future tends not to be a priority, I now reflect on what might be for those I care most for.

Villa of course come into that category, and yesterdays defeat in a way was the 12th night in Villa's season.

Whilst I agree we gave as good as we got until Rooney appeared I was disappointed that after all the progress made following the Arsenal defeat, the team retreated into their old 10 men behind the ball hoof it to Carew tactic.As the commentator said before half time, that's the 52 time its been hoofed forward and come straight back, where's the options.

Truth be told there aren't any.

Added I thought Carew. looked, unfit, ill even, certainly not up for it and against 2 of the best CB's in Europe what else was he expected to do. Credit to the midfield, Coker, Petrov, and Barry all did their job, the defence did its best, how Knight has kept Davies out still confuses me. Thing was every time the ball was gained it tended to be passed back to our keeper to hoof forward.

Petrov give him credit, tried to break beyond their midfield and put balls to feet, Barry on occasion tried the sharp 1-2, Carew just couldn't hold it up, which considering the number of full games he's had recently, wasn't surprising.

Coker tried 3 times to run deep, stopped once and the other two he just looked around to see everyone but Carew behind him defending.Young, again, had a poor game against better opposition which limits the side.

Laursen, Davies did superbly until Mellberg was out of position, Davies nutmegged and Utd scored as Bouma stood ball watching.But the best winger in World football, had been held on a tight rope all day so who am I to criticise one small indiscretion.

I don't understand tactics that put 10 men behind the ball in a one off cup competition, especially at home, especially when your last few games have been creditable on the back of attacking football.That sort of tactic would not have won through at Chelsea, Blackburn, Wigan or against Spurs twice.Yes fatigue had its place in the calculation, but then when 4 million strikers don't make the bench and unfit , unwell ones are first picks, is it surprising, in a squad as small as ours.

I loudly criticised O'Leary when we finished 6th for then spending on Baros and not on improving the squads over all strength, the same applied before this summers exits came about, they are just as important now as then, especially when so many transfers rarely get a look in.

We won't get relegated, we won't qualify for the European cup, we have been knocked out of both cup competitions very early on, what is there left, is there a need to buy in January.

Simply yes, the way O'Neill trades any buy at any time is a bonus, especially if as with Coker, Davies, and Young it occasionally works, but to consider spending now to gain anything other than a weak chance of lower European qualification is for me pointless.

Now it has to be about next season and blooding players to hit the ground running next time out, to see if the 4 million on Harewood was worth it, to see if Maloney can come good, to find a decent replacement for the alienated Sorensen, to find a real right back.

Disappointed with the result certainly, but more upset with the way it came about.

Comments

Those of us In the stadium can't hear what the commentators say. In the stadium we can see the progress being made, and the improvements in the players' performances - like Davies and Petrov. Going to Villa Park week in week out we are also aware that we have a genuine chance for UEFA cup qualification. We also can see that Man Utd are a class above us, and the FA cup was unlikely to be coming home to VP this year. So whilst yesterday was disappointing, it was hardly the "end of our season". Tell me AVFC48 - i was at the stadium yesterday. Where were you? In fact, when are you ever anything other than an armchair fan that irritates?

He has gone down for more years than most, he lives a long enough way off now that he can't get to every game and has other committments + isn't always in the best of health. I hate this thing about only us who go to every game are real fans or entitled to an opinion.

Omg you must be the most negative writer on the planet. Unless you are on crack or have been in a closet for the last 98 years you would realise that we are 7th, joint on points with 6th in the league and have a mojor advantage over team like pompey n everton due to the fact we dont lose any players to the ACON. I think we have an excelent chance of qualifying for europe!

Agree with The Fear, how many of us can claim to have been at VP cheering on Pongo! In reality I understand what AVFC48 is saying, We could have gone out and played good attacking football like we have recently, we didn't, that was a limp wristed effort, I see what MON was trying to do, but Carew was not up to speed and should not have been on the park. It's OK holding strong like we did and then hitting on the counter like we didn't, but it was also pointed out that fatigue had something to do with this match, it did, and not just for our team, along with the late kickoff it was never going to be a stormer.
So qualification through the league it is then, and that is something we are capable of.

Thanks Fear...
I first head of the villa as a kid aged 5 when a mate found an old villa tracksuit that was during the cup winning year and we were both like, ASTON VILLA, who are they? Then I lived in sutton coldfield from the age of 8 and lived opposite David Platt and down the road from Tony Daley. It was then that i started to support the villa and have been there thick and thin with all the stick that a northerner gets as a supporter of a midlands team that do crap. I'm restricted by distance, health and finances but i read every article i can find worth reading about villa. My life seems to be consumed by the club and it really irks me to feel like i'm less of a supporter than those of you fortunate to visit every game. I'm sure there are many out there who are in my position also.

Forgot to add my comments to the article; as always avfc48 i find your article has some elements of truth and i like that, but it's still littered with a lot of negativity. Who's to say we wont qualify for europe or that his transfers are flukes? He was the one who took gambles and occasionally gets it wrong. It feels like unless he's done everything you want him to at the times you want it, he'll never be right. What's the guy to do?

tbh mr fear its avfc48's needless negativity that bores me to death. i'm not saying he isn't a real fan - its just he's never at the matches and claims to know more than the fans that do go and he constantly slates the management that are doing a fine job, without offering any real alternative. I can also remember how sad he was at Mr ellis's departure and i have no respect for that attitude.

"As the commentator said before half time." Come on, it was on TV, why quote the BBC's biased crappy commentator's when you could see for yourself. We now only have 17 games left this season and with the size of our squad that is probably about right. Everyone was tired yesterday. If we get another 25 odd points (only about 9 wins) then previous seasons dictate that we should qualify for Europe. We were never going to win the FA cup and it has only gone to anyone outside the top 4 twice in the last 19 years!! Absolute self obsessed drivel talking about yourself yet again like you have a terminal disease and you blame the whole world for it (especially MON.) The World Class multi tens of millions Manure put out their full team bar Tevez and have only lost to 3 teams this season all whilst having major players out injured. (Carew was only half fit also.)

Had to log in. Well done Villain444, it seems that we are not allowed to be negative about articles because The Fear likes to vouch for 48. It's the reason why i haven't logged in for over a year. I'm sick to the back teeth of going to matches with my best mate and coming back to see the harbinger of doom has been given top spot for an article with Mr Guardian Angel telling us all off if we disagree. Mr Fear should be happy that there are those of us who are vociferous and care so much about Villa that we take time out of our day to post on this site...or perhaps we should keep schtum and do nothing? What a lovely, boring, depressing, lack of free speech site that would be eh? Answers on a post to: DON'T KNOCK THE 48 OR I'LL COME OUT AND REPRIMAND YOU BECAUSE I'M THE EDITOR.